Using your own reusable cloth pads may be a stretch for some women, but with questionable chemicals in commercial products, and the ever-increasing cost of buying them, it can begin to look like a pretty good idea to make your own.  When you add in how comfortable cloth pads are and how much less garbage you will throw away, cloth pads are a really great idea.

Even if you use something like a Diva cup, there are still times when you want to have a pad on for backup.  Imagine using one you don’t have to throw away after one use – the savings really add up quickly!

If you have some leftover flannel, you can easily make your own cloth pads.  You can cut them in any shape and size you desire, so the ones you make will be perfectly customized to your unique body.  For around $20, you can get a manual snap tool to install those little plastic snaps you see on cloth diapers and other clothing, which allows you to snap your pads around your panties, just like a disposable pad.

Craft stores like Joann have a fabric called polyurethane laminate, which is a laminated polyester and is waterproof.  You can line your pads with this to prevent leaks, or go without to have better breathability.  I have both kinds and don’t really notice much difference, except the PUL costs more to add than to leave out, of course.

The first time I tried a cloth pad, I was surprised at how absorbent and comfortable it was.  For a couple dollars each, you can make cloth pads that will last years and years, and can be washed with your regular laundry without any trouble.